RTA to make travel easy with 3-lane Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project

Dubai: In response to directives from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at enhancing the development of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project to keep pace with the region’s rapid population growth and urbanization, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has taken steps to advance the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project. This initiative, overseen by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, aims to address the evolving transportation needs of the area.

The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project will span from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej and Cairo Streets. It will consist of six lanes stretching over 1,650 meters, designed to accommodate up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel is a crucial component of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, a comprehensive initiative covering a 13-kilometer stretch along key thoroughfares such as Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street, and Cairo Street. This project includes enhancements to 15 intersections, benefiting various residential and developmental communities including Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City, and Mina Rashid. It is anticipated to significantly reduce travel times from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, serving approximately one million people.

Phase 4 of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project encompasses the construction of the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel, which will feature three lanes in each direction across its 1,650-meter length. Additionally, this phase involves the conversion of the Cairo and Al Wuheida Streets intersection from a roundabout to a signalized intersection, as well as enhancements to Cairo Street and connectivity between the Dubai Islands bridge ramp and the new tunnel on Al Khaleej Street northward. These improvements aim to benefit residents of Abu Hail, Al Wuheida, and Al Mamzar, as well as various development projects in the area.

Furthermore, RTA is undertaking a 4.8-kilometer improvement project on Sheikh Rashid Street, incorporating the construction of three bridges totaling 3.1 kilometers in length. These bridges will facilitate smoother traffic flow and accommodate up to 19,400 vehicles per hour across all lanes. Additionally, surface junctions along Jumeirah Street, Al Mina Street, and Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street will be upgraded, along with the construction of pedestrian bridges and essential infrastructure such as lighting, drainage, and irrigation systems.

RTA has already completed several key milestones within the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, including the opening of intersections and bridges, such as the Infinity Bridge and Falcon Intersection. These infrastructural enhancements aim to improve connectivity, ease traffic congestion, and support the ongoing development and urbanization of Dubai.

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